Perhaps we should simply preset the scoreboard to read: VISITORS 5 HOME 2 - and save all of the hometown fans the disappointment of sitting through sixty minutes of hockey just to arrive at the same outcome.

For the third time in as many games, the visiting team walked off with a 5-2 win in the NOJHL West Division final - which on Monday night would mean that the Greater Sudbury Cubs narrowed the series deficit to two games to one, finally getting into the win column against the Soo Thunderbirds.

And just as had been the case through the opening two encounters at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex, game three remained close until easily into the third period of play, the teams tied at 2-2 as they retreated to their respective dressing rooms at the end of the second.

Billy Biedermann (Cubs - 4:06) and Justin Mauro (T-Birds - 6:38) traded first period tallies, with Daniel Beaupre giving Sault Ste Marie a 2-1 lead midway through the second.

The tide began to turn about five minutes later when Samuel Assinewai sprung Oliver Smith on a clear-cut breakaway, the former OHLer beating Landon Miller and giving his team new life.

That momentum carried into a final frame that meant more than any other the Cubs have played this year with Biedermann scoring the game-winning goal at 5:41 and Pierson Sobush adding two more for good measure at 9:24 and 13:58.

Noah Metivier recorded the win between the pipes for Sudbury, stopping 20 of 22 while Landon Miller was tagged with the loss following a 19-save effort.

The Cubs will look to capitalize on home-ice disadvantage again this evening as the teams lock horns for game four at 7:00 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre, with game five now slated for Thursday night in Sudbury.